Therapeutic Research

Abstract

Background: One of the problems with asthma treatment is the burden of illness caused by poor control of the symptoms. Despite recent changes in the medical environment in Japan such as improved usage rate of ICS/LABA, there have been no recent （since 2010） investigations into burden of disease and control status in asthma. Population –based internet surveys, such as the National Health and Wellness Survey（NHWS）, may be useful for gaining important insights, especially given that potential factors affecting poor control status in Japan have not been fully investigated in past studies. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the proportion of patients with not–well–controlled asthma in Japan, patient baseline characteristics, medication taking behaviors and disease burden using NHWS 2013 data. Methods: The NHWS survey was conducted in November to December 2013. From a panel of 30,000 adult Japanese patients aged 18 years or older, 693 patients with self –reported asthma –related disease were analyzed. Survey items included control status assessed by the Asthma Control Test （ACT）, patient baseline characteristics, treatment status, adherence, health related quality of life（HRQOL）, asthma –related clinical episodes, and work productivity. Results: Asthma control status was evaluated as “not –well –controlled” in 39.3％ of patients and “at–least–well–controlled” in 60.7％ of patients, including 15.7％ of patients who had achieved “total control.” Not –well –controlled asthma was associated with poorer adherence, higher disease severity, more frequent hospital visits, and poorer work productivity and HRQOL. Furthermore, 71.6％ of patients with not –well –controlled asthma defined by ACT self –reported their asthma had been controlled to some extent. Conclusion: Poorly controlled asthma status and patient baseline characteristics remains unchanged from previous NHWS administrations in 2008 and 2010. Poor control is associated with low adherence and significant burden, including more severe disease and impairments in HRQOL and work productivity.